Ventilated wall construction



pril 1l, 1967 D. E. CUE 3,313,072

VENTILATED WALL CONSTRUCTION v Filed April 5, 1956 A TTOQA/E YS United States Patent flice 3,313,072 Patented Apr. 11, 1967 3,313,072 VENTILATED WALL CONSTRUCTION Dewin E. Cue, Lakewood, Ohio, assignor to Cue-Thompson & Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a partnership composed of Dewin E. Cue and Joseph H. Thompson Filed Apr. 5, 1956, Ser. No. 576,342 9 Claims. (Cl. 52-303) This invention relates to frame building construction, more particularly to wall structures of the type having composition sheathing underlying an outer covering such as shingles, clapboards or siding.

In erecting frame buidings it is customary to apply a structural sheathing to the studding or other supporting members, the outside or finished covering of the Ibuilding in the form of siding, shingles or clapboards being applied flatwise against and secured to the sheathing. There has been an increasing tendency to use composition sheathing panels made of compressed and bonded cellulose fibers in lieu of the traditional wood sheathing boards, the composition materials being generally less expensive and more easily erected, having better insulating properties and producing a tighter or more draft-free structure than conventional wood sheathing.

One of the problems encountered in frame buildings, especially those constructed of composition pressed fiber sheathing, is the peeling and blistering of paint applied for ornamental or protective purposes to the siding, clapboards or shingles which constitute outside covering of the structure. Various explanations have been advanced for the occurrence of paint deterioration `of this type, it being generally agreed that the presence of moisture behind the paint is the most significant contributing factor.` Various schemes have been devised for overcoming this moisture problem, such as venting the space between the studs or supports inside the sheathing. Such venting may consist merely in providing openings along the top and along the bottom of the wall so that air can circulate freely between the stud spaces, In the case of structures having bulk type insulating in the studding spaces, arrangements have been devised to insure vertical air channels between the inside of the sheathing and the insulation so that moisture condensed in the insulation as a result of the dew point phenomenon or otherwise is dried out. While structural arrangements of the type referred to have been somewhat effective, they have not been completely satisfactory in solving the paint deterioration problem.

It is therefore the principal object of the present invention to provide an improved building structure of the type in which wooden siding or the like is applied over sheathing on spaced supporting studs in which provision is made automatically for continuous ventilation of the meeting faces of the sheathing and siding in predetermined fashion so as to eliminate creation of water or water vapor pressure behind paint coated on the outside, thereby removing the generally accepted cause of paint deterioration. More specifically it is sought to provide a series of vertically ranging air passages or channels between thc sheathing and siding so that moisture entering into the interfacial zone through either the sheathing or the siding is dried out and the building is eliminated.

Another object is to provide an improved sheathing of the compressed fiber composition board or panel type which is relatively broad compared to the conventional wood board sheathing and is formed during manufacture with raised and depressed portions on its outside face so that in erecting a building using such sheathing the siding, shingles or clapboards are engaged against the raised portions of the sheathing and the spaces between the inside face of the siding and the depressed portions of the sheathing constitute air circulation channels arranged in predetermined patterns and spacings. More specifically, this aspect of the invention is concerned with such composition panel sheathing having a series of alternating parallel ridges and grooves so oriented that when such sheathing panels are erected in a building, the grooves extend vertically to provide vertical air pass-ages. As a further refinement of this aspect of the invention, those edges of the sheathing panels that are disposed horizontally in the structure are relieved or cut away along the outside face of the sheathing to provide horizontal connecting channels or passages which constitute headers into which all the vertical passages or channels open and with which the latter are continuous so that the flow of circulating air vertically through a number of such sheathing panels disposed one above another in a wall structure is facilitated.

A still further object is to provide a relatively broad composition sheathing panel of the character referred to, charactered or formed on its outside face with raised and depressed portions to provide air circulation passages between sheathing and siding, in which such charactered outside surface is impregnated or other wise treated with a waterproofing agent in the provision of a water impervious skin or covering that constitutes a Water and water vapor barrier.

Still other objects and advantages are apparent in the following detailed description `of the invention made in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an isometric diagram showing a dwelling representative of the type `of frame building structure contemplated in the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical foreshortened sectional view through one of the walls of the building of FIG. 1, this view being taken approximately in the plane represented by the line 2 2 of FIG. l and enlarged with respect to that ligure to illustrate a compressed liber composition sheathing panel and a structural arrangement which represents the ybest-known mode of practicing the invention;`

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional detail through the Wall structure of FIG. 2, with parts broken away and removed, being taken substantially in the plane represented by the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevational detail view showing a portion of the outside of the building of the preceding figures, portions of the siding being broken away and removed to reveal one of the horizontal grooves or reliefs which provide headers along the edges of the sheathing panels, and also revealing one of the through openings for communication and flow of air between the inside and outside faces of the sheathing, this view being in the plane represented by the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional detail similar to FIG. 3 illustrating a modification of the invention wherein the ratio of the area of the depressed portions to the area of the raised portions of the outside face of the sheathing is reduced relative to that of the embodiment of FIGS. 2-4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary vertically foreshortened elevational view, with parts broken away and removed, of the embodiment of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional detail with parts removed, similar to FIGS. 3 and 5, showing a modification in which the ratio of the depressed areas to the raised areas of the outside face of the sheathing is increased relative to the embodiments of FIGS. 3 and 5;

FIG. 8 is a horizontal sectional detail, with parts broken away and removed, corresponding to FIGS. 3, 5 and 7 and illustrating a modification in which the outside face of the sheathing comprises a series of side-by-side grooves and Yof the siding being removed to show the outside grooved and ribbed face of the sheathing, the horizontal header channels and one of the through openings; and

FIG. is a fragmentaryhorizontal sectional detail through a building structure showing a modification similar to that of FIG. 8, wherein the curved contour outside corrugations are obtained by bonding suitable corrugated sheet material to the otherwise flat outside surface of the sheathing.

The size, shape and design of the frame building structure that can be erected using the principles of the present invention can be widely varied since the composition sheathing although supplied in the form of relatively broad panels, can be cut to convenientsizes and shapes to fit different wall areas and different contours, as around doors and windows and under eaves. Thus the small dwelling outlined in FIG. l is merely illustrativel and is presented for the purpose of showing the location of and orienting the larger scale sectional views which illustrate the invention in more detail. In ere-cting such a building the footings and foundation are laid and constructed of masonry in the usual manner. The upright Wooden structural members or studs and the horizontal wooden floor supporting members or joists are placed on plates, sills and lintels in the usual fashion. These supporting structural members of the building, the inside walls whether theyfbe of lath and plaster, of composition panel boards or of the so-called dry-wall construction, and the insulation and vapor barriers if they be used, are conventional.

A typical wall structure which, in combination ernbodies fe`atures of the present invention, is illustrated in FIGS. 2-4. A number of uniformly spaced parallel upright supports or studs 10 bear at their bottom ends on plate 11 carried by foundation Wall 12. Across the top ends of the studs 10 is secured a horizontal plate 14 on which bear ceiling rafters or joists 15. The inner and outer edges of the studs 10 are disposed respectively in parallel planes separated by the depth of the studs. An inside wall panel is disposed across and secured to the inner edges of the studs and may comprise a layer or sheet 16 of pre-formed plasterboard to which is Vapplied a surface covering 17 of finished plaster. The plasterboard 16 is secured to the studs 10 as by nails, not shown.

In the case of a building structure that is toincorporate bulk typeinsulation such asV conventional insulation bats 20, the latter are placed between the studs 10 prior to erecting the insiderplasterboard sheet 16. Thus flanges 21 along the margins of inside vapo'rproof membrane 22 and outside Wrapping paper 23 that together enclose the fibrous Vbulk insulation of the bat 20 are first appliedV against and suitably overlapped on the edges of the studs before the inside wall panel structure 16, 17 is erected.

The outside wall elements that cover the studs 10 and with which `the present invention is concerned are customarily erected as soon as the studs are in place and before the inside walls V16, 17 and insulation 20 are placed. Such outside wall elernents comprise relatively broad flat sheathing panels 30 economically formed of salvaged cellulose fibers compressed together, preferably with a suitable binder. These panels are of standard widths and lengths and thickness. A suitable size is about eight feet long by about thirty inches wide by about one inch thick. The sheathing panels 30 are secured to the upright stud supports 10 as by nails 31 driven through the panels and into the studs. Each panel is disposed with its long dimension running horizontally so that the top edge of one panel, desirably formed with a tongue 32, is disposed along and its tongue received within a matching or complementally shaped groove formed in the bottom edge of the next adjacent panel. The sheathing panels thus have top edge tongues and bottom edge grooves as is custornary in sheathing panels of the composition compressed ber'type. Vertical joints between the ends of adjacent panels are made by abutting the panels on the studs as shown at 33.

The outside surface of the sheathing panels 30 is charactered to provide a multiplicity of spaced raised por- Vtions and intervening depressed portions so that siding material such as boards 35 secured in overlapping relation against the outside of the sheathing as by nails, not shown, is engaged against the raised portions of the sheathing surface which hold the siding clear of the depressed surface portions. The raised portions may comprise a series of uniformly spaced parallel ribs 37 separated by a series of grooves 38 that parallel one another. The ribs and grooves, in alternating relation are disposed transversely across the width of the sheathing panels so that when the panels are erected with their long dimensions extending horizontally the transversely disposed ribs and grooves are vertical.

The ribs and grooves can be formed in the panels by cutting or kerfing flat surfaced panels or, preferably, by providing a platen in the forming press used in making the sheathing having a charactered metal surface of suitable complemental form to that of the desired ribbed and grooveed pattern of the sheathing panel so that the ribs and grooves are shaped during the original pressing and molding.

Each sheathing panel has a vertical dimension several times that of the individual wooden siding boards 35. For example, the sheathing is made in panels having a vertical dimension of about thirty inches (30") whereas the siding boards 35 are about six inches (6) to about fifteen inches (15) in a vertical dimension. Thus each of the spacing ribs 37 extends across a plurality of siding boards in the finished wall structure. These ribs, and the grooves 38 which they define are relatively shallow, being not more than about one-half inch (1/2) nor less than about one-eighth inch (13`) preferably of the order of about five-sixteenths inch '/16) in depth to obtain optimum results both structurally and in the matter of convective air flow to maintain adequate drying characteristics Without excessive heat transfer through the wall.

Such a press platen can be made by securing to the horizontal surface of a conventional fiat platen a number of identical steel bars each having the same rectangular cross section as the corresponding grooves 38 to be shaped, such bars being uniformly spaced in parallel relation to one another with the separating spaces corresponding to the widths of the ribs 37 to be molded integrally with one another on the surface of the sheathing material. The pre-formed body'of fibrous cellulose material introduced into Vthe press between the platens of the latter to make the sheathing may be lfirst coated with a suitable material to form a vapor sealing film across the corrugated outside surface of the sheathing. Alternatively, the corrugated surface may be treated as by spraying or painting on'a coating material such as a bituminous emulsion or mix which after drying forms a sealing surface skin on the corrugated or rib side of the sheathing.

Along one or both of its long or top and bottom side edges the sheathing panel is formed with rabbets or grooves 40 that are somewhat deeper than the parallel grooves 38. The transverse grooves 40, disposed at right angles to the grooves 38, are intersected by the latter so that the air circulating passages defined by the vertical grooves 38 are continuous with the intersecting grooves which thus constitute horizontal connectors or headers.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, ythe transverse grooves 40 are formed in both top and bottom edges of the sheathing panels so that each of the parallel grooves 38 is open at one or its upper end into the transverse groove along v one or the top edge of the panel and is also open at its other or lower end into the transverse groove along the other or bottom edge of the panel. Thus when a plurality of panels are laid up against the studs of a building, the top transverse rabbet groove along the edge of one panel joins and is continuous with the bottom transverse rabbet groove of the neXt adjacent panel so that the transverse grooves of adjacent panels are paired and together define header channels that are continuous along the meeting edges of the panels. Passages are thus provided between sheathing and siding for the free convective circulation of air upwardly through the vertical grooves 38 and horizontally through the transverse grooves 40 in drying the inside surfaces of the siding boards 35. In the event water runs or is driven into the interfacial space between the sheathing and the siding as in a rainstorm accompanied by high winds, or in the event one of the siding boards 35 is cracked or broken, the connecting vertical and horizontal passages provided by the grooves 38, 40 constitute avenues of escape thus preventing the accumulation of water between the sheathing and siding.

In connection with the circulation of drying air and the draining of the interfacial space between the sheathing and the siding, the present invention contemplates suitable venting and draining openings distributed across the outvside of the wall preferably along the top and long the bottom. Such openings can be made by drilling through the siding boards 35 to provide vents continuous with the transverse grooves 40 or, as shown in FIG. 2, by spacing the bottom edge of the lowermost sheathing panel above or clear of the foundation so that unobstructed openings 42 are provided into the vertical grooves 38 along the lowermost edge of the sheathing. Along the top of the building wall is placed a molding or trim strip 43 which may be used to complete the joint between the siding and the overhang of the roof or, if desired, may be used to cover `a horizontal joint between different stories -of the building. The trim strip 43 is formed as by drilling with a number of vent openings 44 that communicate with a transverse passage 45 continuous with the upper ends of the vertical air circulating grooves 38 in the toprnost of the sheathing panels 30. The upper edge of the toprnost siding board 35 is overlapped by the trim strip 43 so that the siding constitutes a spacer which holds the trim strip away from the ribs 37 of the sheathing panel in the provision of the horizontally or transversely extending header space 45.

Since the bottom vents 42 and the top vents 44 open outside the building, a continuous flow of outside atmospheric air through the vertical passages 38 and the horizontal header passages 40 is convectively induced. This flow of air through the passages located between and providing an interfacial space partially separating the siding boards and the sheathing keeps both the sheathing and the siding free of water or moisture accumulation and therefore eliminates the building up of vapor pressure behind any paint, varnish or other protective coating applied to the outside of the siding boards 35.

The present wall structure is thus in the nature of a remedial arrangement which overcomes the moisture problem resulting from condensation of water vapor in bulk insulation such as the bats 20, from the leaking of outside water through the siding boards 35 or from both these causes. Instead of seeking to eliminate vapor condensation in the bulk insulation bats by elaborate vapor seals and instead of trying to eliminate leakage of water into the parting plane between the siding and the sheathing,

the present invention recognizes the practicaldifficulties` encountered in erecting buildings according to present` day techniques and provides a structure which does not seek to eliminate completely the entry of water between the siding and the sheathing, but substantially overcomes the harmful effects of such water or moisture by providing for its release and discharge and for the continuous circulation of air to dry out any moisture content that may remain, instead of permitting trapped moisture to build up a harmful vapor pressure such as occurs in convend tional structures when the siding is heated by changes in the weather or by sunshine.

To obtain a circulation of air on both sides of the sheathing panels 30, one or both of ythe meeting edges of adjacent panels are formed with horizontally spaced notches 48 that intersect and are thus continuous with the transverse header channels or grooves 40. The notches 48 thus place the interfacial air circulating system comprising the vertical grooves 38 and the horizontal header grooves 40 in communication with the internal wall spaces located between the studs 10. Vent openings such as indicated at 50 in the plate 14 may be provided to allow circulation of air between the stud spaces and the attic or upper wall zones of the building. Suitable vent openings such as indicated at 51 are provided behind baseboard 52 and through the floor of the building for circulation of air into and out of the bottom ends of the stud spaces.

In the case of a building having the bulk insulation bats 20 the bats are installed with a clear space 53 between the paper wrapping 23 `and flat inside surface 54 of the sheathing panels 30 so as to permit gravity or convection flow of air vertically between the vent openings 50, 51 through the stud spaces 53 between the insulation wrapping and the inside surface of the sheathing. Under certain conditions, depending principally on wind direction and velocity, a beneficial cross flow of drying air occurs from one side lto the other of the sheathing through the notch openings 48 distributed along the meeting edges of the sheathing panels. Thus the invention permits the wall to breathe in different ways and in accordance with atmospheric conditions, insuring an efficient changing of the air in the various channels and passages and effec-tively eliminating the harmful accumulation of moisture.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a modication in which vertically arranged air circulating grooves 56 are relatively widely spaced on the outside surface of the sheathing panel, adjacent grooves being separated from one another by relatively wide lands or raised portions 57 which correspond to the ribs 37 in FIGS. 2-4. Such an arrangement, in which the ratio of rib or land area to groove or channel area is relatively high, is suitable for use in a relatively dry climate where the drying of moisture from between the sheathing and the siding is accomplished with relatively little circulation of air. In the case of a rectangular sheathing panel having its short or vertical dimension nominally thirty inches, it is satisfactory to have the parallel Ventilating grooves 56 as much as approximately ten inches apart.

FIG. 7 illustrates a modification suitable for use in a moist or damp climate where considerable circulation of air is desirable between the sheathing and the siding. In this modication narrow ribs 58, each approximately One-quarter inch (MW) to about one inch (1) in widt in a sheathing panel of the nominal size mentioned, extend vertically or across the narrow dimension of the panel and are separated horizontally from one another by relatively wide air circulating grooves or lspaces 59, each of'which spaces may be several times the width of the ribs separated thereby. For example, the grooves 59 may be about eight linches in horizontal width so that the greater part of the outside surface of the sheathing consists of the depressed areas that deline the passages over which the drying air circulates behind the sliding boards 35. Thus only that portion of the sheathing panel represented by the parallel ribs 58, less than about ten percent of the surface area, is in contact with the siding boards and the major portions of the inside faces of the siding boards are exposed to the air circulating through the interconnected passages.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a modification in which the raised portions of the outside face of the compressed brous composition 'sheathing panel comprise a multiplicity of vertical ribs 61 and intervening grooves 62 all of which are formed with rounded contours that blend into one another. Thus the ribs 61 make substantially line contacts with the inside faces of the sidingV boards and drying air circulating through the grooves 62 is able to contact substantially the entire surface of the siding boards. The ribs 61 'are spaced approximately one-half inch (1/2) between centers and the grooves 62 are approximately three-eighths inch (3/s) deep.

A convenient procedure for making sheathing panels having the uniformly corrugated external surface shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 involves the use of a sheet of corrugated metal which is laid flatwise against one of the platens of the molding press. When the press is closed on the brous pre-form containing the cellulose material of which the sheathing panel is formed, the corrugated sheet metal provides one of the molding surfaces which denes the shape of the pressed panel and produces the desired alternating ribs and grooves of rounded contours.

FIG. 10 illustrates a modification in which a composition sheathing panel 65 (made as in conventional pressed board fashion) is formed with flat inner and outer faces 66, 67 and vertically arranged air circulating passages 68 and 69 are provided between the sheathing panel and the siding boards 35 by a corrugated strip 70 which may comprise a heavy resin impregnated paper or cardboard or a thermosetting plastic sheet material molded to the desired corrugated shape. The strip 70 is bonded to the outer face 67 of the sheathing panel 65 as by cement 71 so that shifting and `collapsing of the corrugated sheet is prevented. The ribs and grooves of this modification have the same dimensions, or approximately so, as described in connection with FIGS. 8 and 9.

In ,each of the compressed fibrous material sheathing panel modifications of FIGS. 5-10 the top and bottom edges of the panels are provided with the intertting tongues and grooves 32 similar to those shown and described in connection with the embodiments of FIGS. 1-4. Additionally the modified arrangements incorporate transverse header grooves corresponding to the grooves 4t) for the purpose of placing the vertically extending parallel grooves or air circulating depressed areas in communication with one another across'the entire lhorizontal extent of the panels. The through openings or notches 48 are also provided in the edges of the panel structures of FIGS. 5-10 so that air circulation can be effected through the sheathing panels from one side to the other with the horizontally spaced vertical passages on the outside in communication with the stud spaces on the inside.

Although the siding boards 35 illustrated are tapered in thickness and overlap one another, it is to be understood that other types of siding can be used, such as siding boards of uniform thickness, with or without tongue and groove edge joints. Furthermore, the siding can be applied horizontally, as shown, or vertically or even diagonally.

In accordance with the patent statutes the principles of the present invention may be utilized in various ways, numerous modifications and alterations being contemplated, substitution of parts and changes in construc-v tion being resorted to as desired, it being understood that the embodiments shown in the drawings and described above are given merely for purposes of explanation and illustration without intending to limit the scope of the claims to the specific details disclosed.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent ofthe United States is:

1. In a building wall structure for separating a relatively warm atmosphere from a relatively cold atmosphere, a series of horizontally spaced wall supports each having an inner and an outer edge, said inner and outer edges being disposed in spaced generally parallel planes, interior panel means mounted on and against the inner edges of the wall sup-ports land having a face constituting the inside surface of the structure faced toward the warm atmosphere, a plurality of generally flat planar rigid structural sheathing panels comprising compressed liber and binder composition mounted on the wall supports in edge to edge relation, each said sheathing panel being disposed wholly outside the plane of and having an inside face diposed flatwise against the outer edges of the wall supports and extending horizontally across a multiplicity of such supports, each sheathing panel being of greater horizontal length than vertical height and being .adapted for nailing thereto and supporting of board siding means, the interior panel means and the sheathing panels being spaced from and disposed in generally parallel relation to one :another on the inside and outside respectively of the supports, each sheathing panel having integral formations providing an outwardly directed face charactered with raised .and depressed portions alternating horizontally along the length of such sheathing panel, siding means detachably mounted against said charactered face of the sheathing panel for necessary removal and replacement while the sheathing panels remain mounted on the supports, said siding means having an outer face constituting the surface of the structure faced toward the cold atmosphere and an inner face directed inwardly toward the charactered faces of the sheathing panels, the siding means being in direct bearing relation against the raised portions and, intermediate such raised portions, being spaced from the depressed portions of said charactered faces of the sheathing panels in the provision of Aa multiplicity of through passages between and cooperatively by the outwardly directed charactered faces of the sheathing panels and the inwardly directed face of the sidings means, and said passages being vertically continuous for the convective oW of air through such passages to dry out moisture in the interfacial spaces between the sheathing panels and the siding means.

2. In .a building wall structure as claimed in clam 1, the c'haractered faces of the sheathing panels being formed with horizontally continuous depressed areas providing header passages between the sheathing panels :and the siding means, said header passages being fewer in number than, continuous with and intersecting the through passages for venting the latter.

3. In a .building wall structure for separating a relatively warm atmosphere from a relatively cold atmosphere, a series of horizontally spaced Wall supports each having an inner and an outer edge, said inner and outer edges being disposed in spaced generally parallel planes, interior panel means mounted on and against the inner edges of the wall supports and having a face constituting the inside surfa-cevof the structure faced toward the warm atmosphere, a plurality o-f generally at planar rigid structural sheathing p-anels comprising compressed fiber and binder composition mounted on the wall supports in' edge to edge relation, each said sheathing panel being disposed wholly outside the plane of and having an inside face disposed flatwise against the outer edges of the wall supports and extending horizontally across a multiplicity of such support, each sheathing panel being of greater horizontal length than vertical height and being adapted for nailing thereto and supporting of board siding means, the interior panel means and the sheathing panels being spaced from an disposed in generally parallel 4relation to one another on the inside and outside respectively of the supports, each sheathing panel having an outside charactered face comprising a series of integral horizontally spaced vertical ridges providing vertical grooves between such ridges, the ridges and grooves paralleling one another and providing raised and depressed surface portions alternating along the length of the charactered face, siding means detachably mounted against said character-ed face of the sheathing panel for necessary removal and replacement while the sheathing panels remain mounted on the supports, said siding means having an outer face constitutiing the surface of the structure faced toward the cold atmosphere and an inner face directed inwardly toward vthe charactered faces of the sheathing panels, the siding means being in direct bearing rel-ation against the ridges (and intermediate such ridges, being spaced from the depressed surface portions of the sheathing panels in the provision of a multiplicity of through pass-ages between and cooperatively by the outwardly directed charactered faces of the sheathing panels and the inwardly directed face of the siding means, and said groove pass-ages being vertically continuous for the convective iiow of drying air vertically through interfacial spaces between the sheathing panels and the siding means.

4. In a building wall structure as claimed in claim 3, each sheathing panel including means defining horizontal header passages intersecting and continuous with the upper and lowe-r ends of the groove passages for venting the latter to atmosphere.

5. In a building wall structure as claimed in claim 4, the sheathing panels having means providing through openings connecting the header passages to the spaces between the wall supports.

6. A wall construction comprising spaced studs having interior surfacing material secured to the inner sides thereof,

a relatively `rigid sheathing having plain fiat backing surfaces attached to the outer aligned surfaces of said studs to define a 'hollow wall structure,

the outer face of said sheathing having a plurality of continuous ribs,

exterior siding in direct contact with said ribs and secured to said studs,

said ribs forming continuous Ventilating paths which are vented to outer atmosphere,

and said sheathing being provided with spaced apertures communicating with said hollow walls interior defined between said interior surfacing materials and said relatively rigid sheating.

7. A wall construction comprising studding having interior surfacing materials secured to the inner side thereof, sheathing board secured to the Iouter side of the studding, said sheathing board comprising -a continuous inner zone and transversely discontinuous outer zone, said outer zone comprising a plurality of vertically extending ridges between which are defined vertically extending Ventilating paths located within said transversely discontinuous outer zone, said vertically extending ridges being located throughout the lateral extent of the board including the intermediate portions of said late-ral extent, exterior siding overlying said sheathing board and being outwardly spaced from said continuous inner zone and supported by said ridges in non-blocking relationship with said vertically extending Ventilating paths, said Ventilating paths being substantially clear throughout the vertical extent of the wall and communicating with the wall exterior at their lower and upper ends.

8. A wall construction comprising studding having interior surfacing materials secured to the inner side thereof, sheathing board secured to the outer side of the studding, the outer face of the sheathing board having a plurality of vertically extending ridges formed thereon to dene vertically extending Ventilating paths .between said ridges and on the outer side of the sheathing board, said vertically extending ridges being located throughout the lateral extent of the board including the intermedi-ate portions of said lateral extent, exterior siding arranged in horizontally extending groups and overlying said sheathing board and being supported by said ridges in outwardly located non-blocking relationship with said vertically extending Ventilating path, said exterior siding being of substantially constant cross section along its length, said Ventilating paths being substantially clear throughout the Vertical extent of the wall and communicating with the wall exterior at their lower and upper ends.

9. A wall construction comprising studding having interior surfacing materials secured to the inner side thereof, sheathing board secured to the outer side of the studding, the outer face of the sheathing board having a plurality of vertically extending ridges formed thereon to define vertically extending Ventilating paths between said ridges and on the outer side of the sheathing board, said vertically extending ridges being located throughout the lateral extent of the board including intermediate portions of said lateral extent, 'exterior siding arranged in horizontally extending groups and overlying said sheathing board and being supported by said ridges in outwardly located non-blocking relationship with said vertically extending Ventilating paths, said exterior siding being of substantially constant cross section along its lengths, said Ventilating paths being substantially clear throughout the vertical extent of the wall `and communicating with the wall exterior at their lower and upper ends, the inner face of the sheathing board being relatively smooth compared to the outer face of the sheathing board.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 27,872 4/ 1860 Walcott.

487,925 12/ 1892 Haring 52-303 1,426,872 8/ 1922 Hummert 52-536 1,963,410 6/1934 Kartowicz 52-578 2,030,668 2/1936 Weyerhaeuser 52--303 2,034,489 3/ 1936 Scherer 52`487 2,140,689 12/ 1938 Collins 52-303 2,192,933 3/ 1940 Saborsky 52-303 2,23 8,022 4/ 1941 Johnson 52-404 2,245,047 6/1941 Odell 52-314 2,264,961 12/1941 Ward 52-302 2,289,489 7/ 1942 Ennis 52-593 2,302,962 11/1942 Laucks et al. 52-483 2,317,926 4/ 1943 Lindahl 287-2092 2,324,971 7/ 1943 Woodward 52-303 2,358,550 9/1944 Williams 52--515 2,645,824 7/ 1953 Titsworth 52-303 2,724,872 11/1955 Herbes 52-553 2,735,143 2/1956 Kearns 52-521 2,754,235 7/ 1956 Wesner 52-576 2,823,426 2/ 1958 Dunlap 52-553 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,075,566 4/ 1954 France.

547,424 8/1942 Great Britain.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner. JACOB L. NACKENOFF, ISSAC LISANN, WILLIAM I. MUSHAKE, Examiners.

C. C. M. WOODWARD, S. S. MATI-IEWS, S. J. GUERRINI, D. H. SWITZER, J. E. MURTAGH,

Assistant Examiners. 

6. A WALL CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING SPACED STUDS HAVING INTERIOR SURFACING MATERIAL SECURED TO THE INNER SIDES THEREOF, A RELATIVELY RIGID SHEATHING HAVING PLAIN FLAT BACKING SURFACES ATTACHED TO THE OUTER ALIGNED SURFACES OF SAID STUDS TO DEFINE A HOLLOW WALL STRUCTURE, THE OUTER FACE OF SAID SHEATHING HAVING A PLURALITY OF CONTINUOUS RIBS, EXTERIOR SIDING IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH SAID RIBS AND SECURED TO SAID STUDS, SAID RIBS FORMING CONTINUOUS VENTILATING PATHS WHICH ARE VENTED TO OUTER ATMOSPHERE, AND SAID SHEATHING BEING PROVIDERD WITH SPACED APERTUREAS COMMUNICATING WITH SAID HOLLOW WALL''S INTERIOR 